Center Stage Moves To Phoebus

April 16, 1989

Center Stage, one of the Peninsula's most nomadic theater companies, has landed in Phoebus.

Its new home is the Phoebus Woman's Club on Hope Street, where the company will open the popular musical "Kismet" on Thursday in conjunction with Rainbow Productions, another local performing arts group.

"We found the building in January," says Henry Edgar, Center Stage's artistic director, who reactivated the company after finding this latest location. "The woman's club wanted the building to be used more, so they contacted the Hampton Arts Commission, and the commission called us."

The clubhouse, which once was a school, has a traditional stage and lighting facilities. Edgar plans to seat 50 to 60 people, but can augment that number if necessary.

In addition to staging "Kismet" in Phoebus, the company will retain its Newport News ties with performances April 23 and 30 at Sammy and Angelo's Family Steak and Pancake House on J. Clyde Morris Boulevard.

In the past, Center Stage has performed in several locations but has not yet found a suitable permanent home.

The company plans to continue importing actors from New York as well as training young people in the area. Many performers who have appeared with Center Stage have gone on to play roles in television and film, says Edgar.

Upcoming projects by the company include William Inge's "Bus Stop" and "Almost Broadway," an original musical by David Messick.

Information on "Kismet" and Center Stage is available by calling 244-0179.